Lynda Ann Early

| June 14, 2012 - 8:55am

Lynda Ann Early, who spent summers at Ditch Plain, Montauk, as she was growing up and eventually settled in Sag Harbor, died at Home and Hospice Care in Providence, R.I., on June 2. She was 66 and had been diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma last year.
Ms. Early enjoyed many things in life, according to her daughter, Shannon Tait, including overseas travel, golf at the Sag Harbor Golf Course, and gardening with her grandchildren. But it was her passion for animals, particularly greyhounds, that seemed especially strong. She spent many years rescuing greyhounds and, even when she was ill and had just moved to Rhode Island, she did volunteer work at Amazing Greyz Greyhound Adoption. “The time spent with greyhounds brought her so much joy,” her daughter wrote.
Even more compelling than that interest, however, was her love of her grandchildren, Makayla, Ethan, and Xander, and of the time she spent with them.
Ms. Early was born on April 27, 1946, in Bellerose to the former Barbara Henning, who survives, and William Morton, who died before her. She and her sister, Phyllis, spent summers in Montauk with their parents, until they all moved to East Hampton. Ms. Early spent her last year of high school here, graduating in 1964.
After graduation she attended a beauty school and worked for several years at a salon in Southampton, after which she was a crossing guard for St. Andrew’s Catholic School in Sag Harbor. She then opened a day care center at home in Sag Harbor for the children of working families and became so attached to them that she stayed open for 20 years.
Ms. Early was a member of the East End Church of Christ in East Hampton for over 30 years and, according to her daughter, “found much love and support throughout her life from her family there.”
In addition to her daughter and son-in-law, Tom Tait III, and her grandchildren, Ms. Early is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Shawn and Tammy Early of North Smithfield, R.I., her sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis and Arlin Jividen of Pawleys Island, S.C., and her mother, Barbara Henning Bodger of East Hampton. She wanted the names of her pets who survive her to be mentioned as well: Pogo, Peter, Puppy, Tierney, Ali Khan, and Sandi.
A memorial service will be held on July 14 at Havens Beach in Sag Harbor at 6 p.m. Donations in her name can be made to Amazing Greyz, Inc., P.O. Box 387, Sheldonville, Mass. 02070.